Adequate nutrition in prisons should constantly be monitored due to the limited possibilities of external control as well as the low catering budget for prison meals and poorly defined requirements in this regard. The aim of the study was to assess the nutritional value of meals served in Polish prisons. Using a computer program, 14-day regular and bland diets from 30 prisons were analyzed. The energy value of the meals and the percentage of energy provided by protein, fat, and carbohydrate contained therein were found to meet the recommendations of the Polish National Food and Nutrition Institute. The amount of minerals supplied with the diet did not cover the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) in the case of calcium and magnesium. Particularly disturbing was the excessive supply of sodium in the regular and bland diets, which covered 537% and 311% of the dietary reference intake (DRI), respectively, as well as phosphorus (194 and 192% of RDA). The largest vitamin deficiencies were recorded for vitamins D and C and folate. An especially excessive supply was observed for vitamins A and B₁₂. The type of diet significantly differentiated the average content of over half of the analyzed components, whereas the season of the year turned out to be statistically insignificant. The results of the present investigations indicate a need for development of more accurate legal provisions to regulate the nutrition in Polish prisons in terms of not only the energy value and macronutrient supply but also the intake of minerals and vitamins.

In recent years, food industries have produced a large volume of waste, which is an ecological and economic problem. Fruit and vegetable by-products can also be promising sources of functional compounds, with documented pro-health potential. The goal of the study was to evaluate the impact of the addition of various concentrations of onion skin powder on the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties associated with changes in the quercetin content in uncooked and cooked pastas. The total contents of phenolic acids, quercetin, and antioxidant activity were determined. The anti-inflammatory activity was demonstrated by inhibitory effects on lipoxygenase (LOX) in vitro activity. Dry onion skin is the source of quercetin in analyzed pastas. The concentrations of these compounds gradually and significantly increased with increases in the vegetable component in fortified pastas. Additionally, a positive correlation between the content of phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity of pastas fortified with onion skin powder was noted. The process of cooking caused enhancement in the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential. These qualities of pastas resulted from the presence of dry onion skin with high pro-health activities. Fortification of pasta with onion skin powder could be a starting point to benefit onion industrial by-products and produce new healthy food products.

The aim of the study is to characterise biologically active hydolysates and peptide fractions obtained from vacuum-packed string beans (Phaseolus vulragis L.) (PB). Unpacked beans were a control sample. The influence on human squamous carcinoma cell line SCC-15 (ATCC CRL-1623) was determined. Packed bean (PB) and unpacked bean (UB) extracts were found to exert no effect on the tongue squamous carcinoma cells. The results of the study indicated that the packing process contributed to the retention of protein, soluble dietary fibre, and free sugar (2.36, 3.5, and 1.79 g/100 d.m., respectively). PB was characterised by higher antioxidant activity (expressed as neutralisation of 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS ABTS^•+) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH^·) free radicals) as well as Fe²⁺ chelation and reducing power (IC₅₀ = 54.56, 0.46, 3.85 mg mL⁻¹; 0.088 A_{700/peptide content}, respectively) than the UB samples before hydrolysis. The hydrolysis process enhanced these properties. The IC₅₀ value of lipase and α-amylase inhibitory activity of the hydrolysates obtained from UB was reduced. The PB and UB fractions exhibited a certain level of antimicrobial activity against S. aureus and E. coli. Candida albicans were not sensitive to these peptide fractions.

Physical activity and healthy diets are determinants of the health of convicts who are deprived of freedom. However, little research has focused on these two aspects concurrently. The aim of this study is to analyze the relationships between the level of prisoners’ physical activity and their dietary habits, diet quality, and nutritional knowledge. The cross-sectional study was conducted with 226 prisoners. The inclusion criteria included male sex, age 18–65 years, and consent for the research. We excluded the subjects who met any of the following conditions: female sex, unwillingness to participate, and dangerous prisoner status. The KomPAN questionnaire was used to assess the prisoners’ eating habits, diet quality, and level of nutrition knowledge. The “Last 7d” short form of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) was used to assess the prisoners’ level of physical activity. A significant correlation between the prisoners’ age and their levels of physical activity was found (p = 0.008). Prisoners who were aged 18–29 and over 40 declared a low level of physical activity, whereas those aged 30–40 reported a high or medium level. The level of physical activity of the surveyed prisoners was not significantly correlated with their dietary habits, the quality of their diet, or their nutrition knowledge.

Technologia sous-vide została opracowana w 1974 roku przez francuskiego kucharza Georgesa Pralusa, ale dopiero w ostatnich latach zyskała miano nowoczesnego sposobu obróbki cieplej surowców pochodzenia roślinnego i zwierzęcego. Jest to proces gotowania w ściśle kontrolowanej temperaturze i w określonym czasie surowców spożywczych zapakowanych próżniowo. Istotne jest użycie surowców najwyższej jakości. Po zakończeniu gotowania żywność poddaje się szybkiemu schłodzeniu i przechowuje w niskiej temperaturze. Przed ekspedycją produkty chłodzone i mrożone poddaje się restytucji. Temperatura procesu odgrzewania powinna być podobna lub niższa od użytej w trakcie procesu pasteryzacji. Jednoczesne zastosowanie kilku czynników utrwalających, tj. modyfikowanej atmosfery przechowywania, pasteryzacji oraz przechowywania w warunkach chłodniczych umożliwia działanie addytywne i znacząco wpływa na jakość produktu w trakcie przechowywania. Warunki panujące podczas poszczególnych etapów (pakowanie próżniowe surowców, niska temperatura procesu) pozwalają na ograniczenie strat składników bioaktywnych i zmniejszenie zmian struktury, co w konsekwencji pozwala na uzyskanie produktów o wysokiej jakości sensorycznej i odżywczej. Dodatkowo obserwuje się zmniejszone straty objętości i gramatury przygotowywanych potraw. Technologia sous-vide jest obecnie szeroko stosowana przez restauratorów oraz do produkcji żywności wygodnej. Do wad tej technologii należy zaliczyć: wydłużony czas trwania obróbki termicznej, wysokie koszty zakupu specjalistycznego wyposażenia, konieczność przeszkolenia personelu i bezwzględną konieczność przestrzegania reżimu technologicznego. Celem pracy była charakterystyka systemu technologicznego sous-vide, wskazanie niezbędnych urządzeń, jak również przedstawienie korzyści i zagrożeń związanych ze stosowaniem tej metody.